Knitting machine



1931. A. E. STEWART 1,835,994

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 1928 9Sheets-$heet 1 87 Invewio 3" Dec. 8, 1931. A. E. STEWART KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 177/?)871/707'. v flZbe-rZESi ewari Dec. 8, 1931. E, STEWART 1,835,994

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 771716211702 fliberi'figiewarl Dec. 8, 1931. A. E. STEWART 1,835,994

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 2, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 be Ii'i/venifor: 45 fliberiEie-wari Dec. 8, 1931. A E. STEWART KNITTING MACHINE Invenio W JZZZJBZ'ZEYSZewaWZ 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 12, 1928 Dec. 8, 1931. A. E. STEWART KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 IW/ve 7%?07 0512662 25 -E'. fifewar Z.

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Dec. 8, 1931. STEWART 1,835,994

KNITTING MACHINE Filed J 12, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Dec. 8, 1931. A. E. STEWART KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Dec. 8, 1931. E STEWART 1,835,994

KNIITTNG MACHINE Filed June 12. 1928 9 Sheeis-$heet 9 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT E. STEWART, F FRANKLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGN OR TO HEMPHILI: GOM- PANY, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS KNITTING MACHINE Applicavlonflletl June 12, 1928. Serial No. 284,680.

closed a single embodiment thereof .in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the entire machine, being the right side thereof when facing the machine; 1

Fig. 1 is a detail in horizontal section of 20 a latch construction hereinafter more fully referred to;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the entire machine; V Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof, a part of the head of the machine being omitted;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the pattern drum and associated parts for controlling the p v Fig. 5 .is a plan view thereof;

30 Fig 6 i a Vi w partly in Vertical section and partly in elevation looking from the right hand side of the machine; 0

Fig. 7 is a plan-view of the knitting head and showing certain of the cams and cooperating levers for controlling the sinkersfor plating;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the cams and levers shown in Fig. 7; v y

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the entire machine; Fig. 10' is a side elevation of each of the diiferent sinkers or'web holders employed in the machine;

Fig. 11 is a diagram indicating one of the 45 many patterns that may be produced by the employment of the groups of sinkers herein disclosed;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of the so-called auxiliary drum to operate the levers control- 59 ling the sinker positioning cams;

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have dis- 'Fig. 13 is a horizontal section on the line 13- -13 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section on the line 14-14 of Fig. 12;

.Fig. 15is a detail in'section of certain ifriction means upon the shaft of the color drum for horizontal striping shown in Fig. 5?;

Fig. 16 is a detail in vertical section of a part of the color drum shown in Fig. 9. a

Fig. 17 is a view, mainly in side elevation, of the cam whereby the latch is. controlled that acts upon the shield pertaining to the driving of the auxiliary or yarn plating drum shown most clearly in Fig. 12;

Fig. 18 is a .cam adjacent to that shown in Fig. 17 and acting to control said shield.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing three yarn fingers each supplied with two yarns to e fed .in plating relation; Fig. 20 is a side elevation of one of the s ecial sinkers showing the engagement of t 'e plating yarns therewith; and

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and'lal This invention, being an im rovement upon that disclosed in my said atent No. 1,602,786, will be described with reference to a machine of the general type shown in said patent, but it is clearly to be understood that the invention may be employed with or I incorporated into othermachines of the rotary, independent needle type. While the machine is one wherein a rotary needle cylinder is emplo' ed, it is to he understood that the same may e employed with a machine of the stationary needle cylinder type.

v I have chosen to illustrate myinvention, without limiting the same thereto, as applied to or incor orated into a machine of the Acme type nown as the model D machine, 9 and for convenience of description and explanation merely reference may be had to Canadian Patent No. 200,057, dated-May 11, 1920, disclosing the said model D type of Acme machine.

The machine is provided with a framin 1 having a rotary needlecylinder 2 rovi ed with independent latch needles, esirably such as shown'in my said Patent No. 1,602,- 7.86. The said needles are arranged to be groups or sets of sinkers which are contrasted one from another by suitable difi'erences in formation and preferably by different positioning of butts upon the sinkers.

Thesinkers disclosed in the present embodiment of my invention are all constructed as to the yarn-engaging portion thereof as shown in my Patent 1,602,786, and it is to be understood that, as to each of the two yarns fed in a plating relation, the yarn which is fed in, as shown in Fig. 3 of my said Patent'1,602,786, is the tensioned yarn, and the other yarn is permitted to run free or substantially free, all as fully disclosed in my said patent. For convenience of description, reference is made to my said patent for full explanation of the manner or process whereby the tensioning of one of the yarns and the substantially free running of threads fed in plating relation. se

of the other yarn results in reverse plating as the two yarns slide down the inclined edges of each of the sinkers. I utilize the different tension on the threads or yarns to maintain the threads or yarns normally in predetermined relative position and to cause the tensioned thread or yarn to appear either at the back or the front of the fabric as desired. This T am enabled to do because the needles are of the independent needle type as contrasted with fixed needles into the hooks of which the yarns are fed by burr wheels.

In Fig. 19, I have represented at 442, 4b, 40 tensioningmeans for one of each of the pairs Therein I have indicated the threads as X, Y, X, Y, X", Y", respectively.

In Fig. 10, I have represented the different grou sor sets of sinkers employed, but it is to e understood that the number of groups may be varied as desired. Generally speaking, I employ a diiferent lever for each group or set of sinkers, and so construct.

or shape another set of sinkers that each of such groups or sets can or will be operated by whichever cam is then in operation, and I .provide one other set or group of sinkers having no butts at the outer ends thereof, but having a single butt of ordinary construction adapted to be acted upon by the usual sinker cam. The sinkers of this last group or set are regular sinkers, in that they do v In said Fig. 10, a sinker of each of the 1 several groups or, sets is shown respectively at A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. It is to be understood that the sinkers of the groups A to 'F inclusive are acted upon only by their respective cams, inasmuch as the butts at the outer ends thereof are differently positioned in height.

Said butts are indicated respectively at A, B, C, D, E and F. Each of the sinkers of the group or set G is provided with a formation G at its rear end constituting in effect a butt occupying the position of each and all of the butts A to F. inclusive, which butt G will therefore be acted upon by whichever cam is in operation. Each of the sinkers of the group or set H is devoid of a butt at its outer end, but is provided mere- It is to be understood, as explained in my I said patent, that the sinkers which are to act in reversing the two yarns are moved inwardly at an earlier stage or point in the stitch forming operation than the sinkers which do not at such time effect reverse plating.

I will now describe the cams whereby the several groups of sinkers are moved ini or wardly and the means whereby the said cams are moved into and out of functioning position. Upon a suitable pivot pin or post 5, most' clearly shown in Fig. 9, there are mounted a series of levers generally indicated at 6 and parts of which on an enlarged scale are shown in Fig. 8, and which, being mounted one over another, are respectively pivotally con= nected at their outer ends, as indicated at 7, each to a bar 8. The said bars extend through respective openings in an upright comb or guide 9, and each of said bars 8 is provided with a coil spring 10 connecting it with the comb in such a way as to holdthe beveled end 11 thereof against the pattern formations upon the upright so-called auxiliary or yarn plating drum, shown most clearly in vertical section at 12 in Fig. 12. The inner ends of the levers 6 are beveled, as indicated in Figs. 7 9 and elsewhere, and each of said levers, when moved. inwardly into functioning position by the plating drum 12, is adapted to engage the pin 13 upon the cor.- responding cam of the set of six cams 14,

shown as six. Obviously such number may be varied without departing from my invention. Each of thecams of the said set of cams 14 is provided with a spring, generally indicated at 15, tending normally to move the respective cams out of functioning posi- 15 our.

tion so that the sinkers of the group or set corresponding thereto will not be in position to project the sinkers at a relatively early point, and hence reverse plating will not oc- Those sinkers that are moved in at a relatively early point in the stitch formation will be so inwardly positioned radially that their butts a upon their upper edges will be guided in the proper groove of the sinker as indicated in Fig. 7

- he auxiliary or yarn plating drum 12 is provided with a number of cam tracks or cam formations, indicated most clearly at 16 in Fig. 4, and it is also provided with a sleeve or hub 17, shown most clearly in Fig. 12, so

that it is received loosely upon a vertical rock shaft 18 that, as shown most clearly in Fig.- 6, is mounted in suitable bearings provided upon the framing of the machine and has 80 fast to its lower end a lever 19, to which is connected a link 20, which at its opposite end is pivotally connected at 21 to the arm 22 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 23. Said bell crank lever is pivoted at 24 upon the framing of the machine, and is provided with an arm 25, the outer end of which has a truck or roll 26 which is held by the spring 27 against the periphery of a cam 28 that is mounted for rotation upon the shaft 29,

whereon is mounted the segment 30 of they machine of the said Acme. model D. The contour of the cam 28 is such that in the location of the shaft 29 the vertical shaft 18 is rocked. I

Fast upon the. rock shaft 18 near its upper end, as most clearly shownin Fig. 12, is a pawl lever 31 which has pivotally connected thereto at its outer end a pawl 32 adapted to engage the teeth 33.0f a ratchet 34 loosely mounted upon the shaft 18 just above the loosely mounted shield 35, to be hereinafter described In order to give suitable friction to the ratchet wheel 34, I havev herein provided the horizontally positioned piece 36, shown also in Fig. 13 as surrounding the hub 37 of the ratchet 34, and split as indicated at .38, a screw 39 being provided to tighten the split portion of the part 36 if desired, and. a similar friction provision is shown at39a in Fig. 15 on the shaft of the yarn change pattern drum.

U standing from the upper face of th ratc et 34 is a pin 40 that takes between two' adjusting screws 41, 42 tapped into the two cars 43, 44 extending from the hub or sleeve of the yarn plating drum 12. In this or in any other suitable manner the step-by-step movement of the ratchet 34 is conveyed to the yarn plating drum 12, so that the same is constantly rotated in a step-by-step man- 1 ner, excepting as it is restrained from operation at certain times and especially. during the formation of the heel. During the formation of the toe, the said drum is preferably heing rotated inits step-by-step manner.

The means herein disclosed for temporarily restraining the ratchet 34 and hence the yarn plating drum 12 from rotative movement are the following, to which my invention is not limited.

The shield 35 is provided with a curved outer edge 45 which, when the shield is swung from the position shown in Fig. 14 to the left thereof, covers the teeth of the ratchet 34 that otherwise would be engaged by the pawl 32, and while said shield is in such position the ratchet 34 and consequently the yarn plating drum 12 does not receive movement of rotation. At its opposite end the shield 35 is pivotally connected at 46 to a link 47,-v

which, in the disclosed embodiment of my invention, makes one revolution during the formation of each stocking. v,YYhen the proiection 51 0f the lever 49 is upon the high parts 55, 56 of thecam 53, the shield 35 is held in the position shown in Fig. 14 and the step-by-step movement of the yarn plating drum 12 continues. The cam 53 is provided with two depressions, indicated at 57, 58, the former being for the heel pocket and the latter for the toe pocket. When in the rotation of the cam 53 the projection 51 rides into the heel pocket 57, thestep by step rotation of the yarn plating drum 12 is suspended, but it is resumed at the commencement of thefoot and continues during the knitting of the foot,that is, while the pro-' jection 51 is upon the high part 56 of the In the disclosed" embodimentof my invention, the step-by-step rotation of the yarn plating drum 12 continues also dur ing the formation ofthe toe of the stocking,

but the cams 16 upon the yarn plating drum are such that reverse plating does not occur duringthe formation of the toe. The stepby-step rotation of the drum 12 also continues during the loopers rounds, and the construction is such that, when the next stocking is begun, the reverse plating stripes or plied, desirably formations begin at the top of the stocking, or at the top of the stocking below the rib top thereof, if the latter be used.

In order to. continue the step-by-step rotation of the yarn plating drum 12 during the formation of the toe pocket, I have'provided means, in this embodiment of the invention, whereby the shield 35 is held in the position shown in Fig. 14, so that the stepby-step movement of the ratchet continues. For this purpose, I-have provided upon the shaft 54 a second cam-59 fast thereon and having a cut-away portion 60. Upon the periphery of the cam 59 bears the end 61 of a lever 62 pivoted at 63 and having fast therewith the latch 64 which, when the lever 62 rides upon the high part 65 of the cam 59, is out 'of engagement with the shield 35, as shown in Fig. 17. When, however, the toe pocket begins, the end 61 of the lever 62 enters the depression 60, and accordingly the latch 64 swings upwardly and engages the shield 35 so as to hold the shield in the posi-. tion shown in Fig. 14. As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, a coil spring 66 is provided connected at one end to a screw 67 upon the top of the latch 64 andat its other end to a pin at 68, so as normally tending to move the latch 64 into engagement with the shield 65.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, I have in Fig. 9 represented five yarn fingers 69, 70, 71, 72, 73 co-axially pivoted, as indicated in Fig. 1, in a manner generally similar to that of the Acme machine, and which therefore need not be described in detail.

In the construction shown, the yarn finger 69 supplies the body yarn for the leg and foot. The yarn fingers 7 O, 71 are horizontal striping fingers, the yarn finger 72 supplies the heel and toe yarn, and the yarn finger 73 supplies the splicing yarn to the double sole and the high splice. By means of each of the yarn fingers 69,70, 71, two yarns are supby having two yarn openings in each of said yarn lingers, so that the two yarns supplied by that finger are fed in a plating relation. One of each of said yarns is tensioned, as indicated, by a suitable tension means such as a spring-pressed disk arrangement, shown in Fig. 4 of my Patent No. 1,602,786.

As already stated, the yarn of each pair of two yarns that is tensioned is desirably the upper yarn, as described in my said patent.

Assuming that the yarns so supplied by the three yarn fingers 69, 70, 71 are all of difi'er-. ent colors, it will be seen that I thus provide for six difierent colors, and the reverse plating already described occurs with respect to the two yarns on any one of the fingers 69, 70, 71. Whenever one of the yarn fingers 69, or 71 is thrown up out of action, the two yarns thereof are thrown into the shears (not herein shown) of the Acme machine, and

two yarns are severed and held. Thus,

able manner. While the horizontal stripingmeans or yarn substitution means may be employed independently of the reverse plating mechanism, I preferably use the same conjointly, so that I thereby get a greatvariety of colors, and am enabled to make continuous lines or short lines or dots of any one of the six colors.

In Fig. 11, I have diagrammatically indicated certain of the pattern effects. Therein the four lines of solid black 74 indicate normal plating lines, and the needles which make the same have associated therewith the sinkers H. In the said diagram, the six open lines 75 next to the solid line 74 and also the sixopen lines 76 remotest therefrom are re-' ,verse plating lines which are made by the sinkers G which, as stated, have butts G of such length that they will be acted upon by each and every one of the six cams 14, so that stripes are formed. Between the two sets of reverse plating stripes 75, 76 are arranged blocks or dots at six difierent levels,

as indicated at 77, 77, 78, 78 79, 79', 80, 80, 81, 81 and 82. Saidblocks or dots are reverse plating formations, and are shown merely as one of the manypatterns which may be made?- The stripes 74, 75, 7 6 may be ofany deslred length and the dots 77 to 82 may be of any desired length, and all of them may be positioned where desired and ma be of any color desired.

s an instance of yarns which may be employed, I state that tensioned yarn in each case is or may may be silk or cotton and the non-tensioned inner yarn is worsted, and is the inside yarn for normal plating, the tensioned yarn being the outside yarn for normal plating.

I provide means whereby the latch 64 may be removed from engagement with the shield 35 independently of the cam 59. Herein I have represented a screw or pin 83, shown most clearly in Fig. 4 as positioned at the under side of the ratchet 34. Ihe said pin or screw 83 in practice is adapted to be secured in any one of a large number of openings in the lower face of the said ratchet, as, for example, in any one of twenty-four open mgs. When, in the rotation of the ratchet 34, the pin 33 en ages the latch 64, the said latch is thrown down and thus releases the shield 65, and the latter is returned to the position shown in Fig. 34 by the spring provided therefor.

It will be understood that the construction is such that the drum 12 is racked around to the proper point for the commencement ofthe next stocking, so that the same pattern will be made in the same position upon that stocking.

The shaft 54 is rotated by means of the sprocket chain 84, shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 4 as driven by a sprocket wheel 85 upon the main pattern shaft of the machine, which, being herein of the usual Acme type, need not be further described.

Supported in usual manner about the said main pattern shaft is the pattern chaln 86 whiclris or may be of usual construction, exccpting that it is provided at desired points with certain high. lugs 87 adapted, in the rotation of the pattern. chain, to engage the projection 88 of a lever 89 pivoted at 90 m theframing and having at its end opposite the pivot a pin 91 which, when the lever 89 is lifted, engages and lifts the arm 92 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 93. The arm 94 of said bell crank lever has pivotally connected thereto at 95 a link 96 which, at its opposlte end, is pivotally connected at 97 to a thrust lever 98 pivoted at 99 to the framing.

I have indicated at 100 a gear wheel similar to that of the Acme model D type and adapted to make in the disclosed'embodiment of the invention one revolution to four revolutions of the needle cylinder.

Upon one face of the said gear 100, I have fixedly mounted two cams 101 and 102 spaced from each other as shown and having tapering ends. If desired, a different number of cams may be provided, as,'for example, four. Upon the outer edge of the two cams 101, 102, is adapted to ride the roll 103 of a triangularly shaped lever 104 which is pivoted at 105 upon the framing of the machine. Upon the said lever 104 is pivoted at 106 a pawl 107 to engage the teeth of a ratchet 108 of a pattern drum carried upon the shaft 109. .The

said pattern drum is or may be of the usual construction employed in the Acme machine for effecting yarn change, and need not be more particularly described.

The two cams 101, 102 act in each revolution of the gear 100 to give two impulses to the pawl 107, so as thus to turn the yarn change drum two steps for a single revolution of the gear 100. If a different number of cams be provided upon the gear 100, a cor-' respondingly different number of impulses will be given to the pinion 107 and consequently to the yarn change gear.

In engagement with the suitable cam, formations upon the said yarn change drum are a series of levers, one of which is indicated at 110 in Fig. 1. Each of such levers is provided with a pin 111 to engage the proper row of cam formations. The said levers 110 are pivoted at 111 upon the fram ing, and at their upper ends they are pivotally connected to the yarn finger operating means which, being of usual construction as disclosed in the Acme machine, excepting for the construction now to be'described, need not be described in detail. In front of the yarn change drum rotatably mounted at 109- there is mounted for rotation on a short shaft 112 a drum 113 provided with a number of annular cam formations or paths equalling the number of the yarn fingers, so that they may be individually controlled and moved into and out of action in customary manner. The number of upright levers 110 also corresponds to that of the number of the yarn fingers and pivotally connected at the upper ends thereof are a correspondin number of slides 114, the inner ends of w ich are respectively bevelled as indicated at 115, and are adapted when moved inwardly to swing a lever 116 pivoted at 117 in the rear end of the latch ring 118. The said latch ring 118 is or may be of the usual Acme type'construction, and mounted therein are the series of yarn fingers 69 to 73, already described. Each of said levers has connected thereto a coiled spring 119, the opposite ends whereof are made fast to a part of said bracket, so that the described swinging movement of the lever 115 permits the corresponding yarn finger to be thrown down into act1on by means of the spring 119. An opposite movement of a lever 116 causes the corres onding yarn finger to be thrown up out 0 action, and accordingly the two arns thereof are brought into the path 0 the shears (not shown, but which are or may be of the type shown in the Acme machine).

The lever 98 at its upper end takes under the roll 103 as shown in Fig. 1. The said lever 98 constitutes a shield, and so long as it is held in the position shown in Fig. 1, it supportsthe lever 104 and the pawl 107 in the position shown, so that the pawl cannot sink ack to start another impulse or pawling movement. Said lever'98 is held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by means of the coiled spring 120, but is removed from the said position by means of the link 96 and the bell crank'lever 92, 94 whenever a high lug 87 comes under the projection 88 of the lever 89.

One of the levers 110, being the lever shown in Fig. 1, has pivotally connected thereto not only the slide 114 but also a latch 121 which has rigidly formed therewith a depending arm 122'. In the position shown,the depending part 102 is in the path of movement of a cam 123 upon the drum 113. Said cam 123 may be ad ustably positioned thereon in any pslslition of circumferential adjustment.

en said cam 123 engages the depending arm 122, it swings the latch 121 upward, so that the forward end thereof is out of engagement with the wall' 124 of a longitudinal slot in the corresponding slide 114. Therefore, such corresponding slide 114 is not moved inward inasmuch as the rigid connection, instituted by the downward position of latch 121 is permitted to drop when the cam 123 has'passed from under the arm 122, said slide 114 may be moved forward.

\ The latch 121 and the parts connected thereto" control the movements of the one that although specific terms are employed,

they are used in a generic and descriptive I sense and not for purposes of limitation, the

scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a circular knitting machine, a series of independent latch needles,,sinkers having inner ed es to engage and'push against two threads ers being arranged in sets or groups having contrasting formations, a series of sinker cams adapted respectively to operate upon said difl'erent sets or groups of sinkers, there being included among the sinkers a group or set adapted to be acted upon by any one of said sinker cams, there being also included among said sinkers a set or group adapted to be acted upon only by the usual sinker cams.

2. In a circular knitting machine, a series of independent latch needles, sinkers having inner edges to engage and push against two threads fed in a plating relation, said sinkers being arranged in sets or groups having contrasting formations, a series of sinker cams adapted respectively to operate upon said different sets or groups of sinkers, there being included among the sinkers a group or set adapted to be, acted upon by any one of said sinker cams, there being also included among said sinkers a set or group adapted to be acted upon onl by the usual sinker cams, and means where y any pair of a plurality of pairs of threads may be fed in a platin relation to the needles, and means where y any of said pair of fed threads may be withdrawn from action and another pair substituted in a plating relation.

3. In a circular knitting machine, a circular series of independentneedles, sinkers for said needles, said sinkers being arranged in sets or groups having contrasting butts, a corresponding series of superposed sinker cams adapted to be moved into and out of action with the respective groups or sets of needles so as to move them inwardly at a. relatively earlier period in effecting plating and reverse plating, a corresponding series of levers adapted to act upon said"cams, a pattern drum positioned above the bed plate of the machine upon a vertical axis, and means extending from the'driving mechanism 01' ed in a plating relation, said sink-- eas es the machine for rotating said drum in a step by-step manner.

4. In a circular knitting machine, a circular series of independent needles, sinkers for said needles, said sinkers being arranged in sets or groups having contrasting butts, a correspondin series of su erposed sinker cams adapte to be moved into and out of action with the respective groups or sets of needles so as to move them inwardly at a relatively earlier period in effecting plating and reverse lating, a corresponding series of levers a apted to act upon said cams, a pattern drum mounted-above the bed plate of i the machine in position to act upon said levers, and means to rotate said pattern drum from the driving mechanism of the machine.

5. In a circular knitting machine, a circular series of independent needles, sinkers for said needles, said sinkers being arranged in sets or groups having contrasting butts, a

corresponding series of superposed sinker cams adapted to be moved into and out of action withthe respective groups or sets of needles, so as to move them inwardly at a rel atively earlier period in effecting plating and reverse plating, a corresponding series of levers adapted to act upon said can1s,a pattern drum positioned above the bed plate of the machine and having a supporting shaft extending down through the bed plate, and

ratchet and pawl means connected with the driving parts of the machine for imparting a step-by-step movement of rotation to said ratchet drum. 1 6. In a circular. knitting machine, a circular series of independent needles, sinkers for said needles, said sinkers being arranged in sets or roups having contrasting butts, a correspon 1n cams adapte to be moved into and out of action with the respective groups or sets of a needles so as to move them inward-1y at a relatively earlier period in effecting plating and reverse plating, a corresponding series of levers adapted to act upon said cams, a pattern drum arran ed above the bed plate of the machine an in operative relation to said levers, and ratchet means for imparting a step-by-step movement of rotation to said drum,

7. In a circular knitting machine, a circular series of independent needles, sinkers for said needles, said sinkers being arranged in sets or groups having contrasting butts, a corresponding series of superposed sinker cams adaptedto be moved into and out of action with the respective groups or sets of needles, so as to move them inwardly at a relatively earlier period in effecting plating and reverse plating, a corresponding series series of superposed sinker 1M of levers adapted to act upon said cams, a

step-by-step movement of rotation to saiddrum, and means whereby step-'by-step movement of rotation of said drum is suspended during the knitting of a heel of a stocking.

8. In a circularknitting machine, a circu lar series of independent needles, sinkers for said needles, said sinkers beingarranged in sets or groups having contrasting butts, a corresponding series of superposed sinker cams adapted to be moved into and out of action with the respective groups or sets of needles, so as to move them inwardly at a relatively earlier period in effecting plating and reverse plating, a corresponding series of levers adapted to act upon said camsfia pattern drum arranged above the bed plate of the machine and in operative relation to said levers," ratchet means. for imparting a step-by-step movement of rotation to said drum, means whereby step-by-stepj movementof rotation of said, drum is suspended during the knitting of a heel of a: stocking,

and means whereby during the knitting of the toe pocket the step-by-step movement of the drum may be continued.

9'. In a circular knitting machine, a circular series'of independent needles, sinkers for said needles, said sinkers being arranged in sets or groups having contrasting but-ts, a corresponding series of superposed sinker cams adapted to be moved into and out of action with} the respective groups or sets of needles, so as to move them inwardly at a rel-- atively earlier period in efl'ecting plating and reverse plating, a corresponding series of levers adapted to act upon said cams, a pat tern drum arranged above the bed plate of the machine and in operative relation to said levers, ratchet means for imparting a stepby-step movement. of rotation to said drum, means whereby step-by-step movement of rotation of said drum is suspended during the knitting of a heel of a stocking, means whereby during the knitting of the toe pocket the step-by-step movement of the drum may be continued, and means whereby said pattern drum is brought to correct position for the making of the same pattern upon each of a plurality of articles. I c

10. In a circular knitting machine, a circular series of independent needles to which I two yarns are fed in a plating relation, a series of sinkers slidable transverse of the needle series and each having a yarn engaging edge by which said two plating yarns are engaged, each of said sinkers having a horizontal guiding surface on its lower dge below'the said yarn engaging edge, which lower edge is adapted to be received upon vthe upper face of the sinker bed ring and constitutes, the main guiding edge of the sinker, a plurality of sinkers having depending prolongations each below the plane of the said horizontal guiding surface, said depending prolongations having butts which distributedly among said sinkers are at different levels in use, and selective means active at different levels upon the respective butts to move said sinkers along their said horizontal guiding ,surfacestransversely of the needle 'series at the I reverse plating.

propervrelative time to eifect 11. In a circular knitting machine, a circular series of independent needles, a series.

of sinkers slidable transversely of the needle series and each having a yarn engaging edge and therebelow a sliding guiding edge, a plurality of said sinkers having depending prolongations each below the plane of the said sliding guiding edge, said depending prolongations having butts, which distributedly among said sinkers are at different levels in use, cam means active at different levels upon said respective butts to move said sinkers selectively along their said sliding 3 guiding edges, an auxiliary drum positioned above the bed plate of the machine and opcrating connections between said drum and the said cam means.

12. In a circular knitting machine, a circular series of independent needles, means to feed a. plurality of yarns thereto in'a plating relation, a series ofsinkers slidable transversely of the needle series and each having a yarn engaging edge and therebelow a horizontal guidlng surface on its lower edge,

which lower edge is adapted to be received upon the upper face of the sinker bed ring and constitutes the main guiding edge of the sinker, said sinkers including one or more sinkers having b'u-tts below said guiding Sui face to be operated upon only by means special thereto, also including another sinker or sinkers to be operated upon by any one-of a plurality of said special means, and also including another sinker or sinkers to be opcrated upon by the regular sinker operating means, in combination with said regular sinker operating means, and means special to said sinkers asstated, said sinkers that are adapted to be operated upon by said special means having forward, thread engaging edges whereby a change in the plating relation of the threads is effected in the inward movement of said sinkers.

.13. In a circular knitting machine, a circular series of independent needles, means to 1 .feed a plurality of yarns thereto in a plating relation, a series of sinkers slidable transversely of the needle series and each having a. yarn engaging edgeand therebelow a horizontal guiding surfaceon its lower edge, which lower edge is adapted to be received 'upon the upper face of the sinker bed ring ent levels in use, means acting at different levels upon said respective butts to move said sinkers selectively along their said sliding uiding edges, each of said sinkers having a utt above said sliding guiding edge and regular sinker acting means adapted to act upon saidlast mentioned butts, said sinkers that are adapted to be operated upon by'said special means having forward, thread engaging edges whereby a change in the plating relation of the threads is effected in the inward movement of said sinkers.

14. In a circular knitting machine, a circular series of independent needles, sinkers for said needles, said sinkers being arranged in sets or groups having contrasting butts, a corresponding series of sinker cams adapted to be moved into and out of action with the respective groups or sets of needles, so as to move them inwardly at proper periods in effecting plating and reverse plating, a correspo ding series of elements adapted respectively to act upon said cams, a'pattern drum positioned above the bed plate of the machine, and means for rotating said drum in a step by step manner.

15. In a circular knitting machine, a circular series of independent needles, a series of sinkers slidable transversely of the needle series and each having a yarn engagin edge and having a horizontal guiding surface at its lower edge, which lower edge is adapted to be received upon the upper face of the sinker bed ring and constitutes the main guiding edge of the sinker, a plurality of said sinkers having depending prolongations each below the plane of the said sliding guiding edge, said depending prolongations having butts, which distributedly among said sinkers are at different levels in use, and cam means active at different levels upon said respective butts to move said sinkers selectively along their said sliding guiding edges.

16; A sinker for knitting machines having a web holding shoulder at its front end, said sinker having a horizontal guiding surface on its lower edge which lower edge is adapted to be received upon the upper face of the sinker bed ring and constitutes the main guiding edge of the sinker, and having in the rear of said guiding surface a downwardly and rearwardly extending prolongation of the body of the sinker, said prolongas tion extending substantially below the level of said horizontal guiding surface, the said prolongation having at its .rear edge a rearwardly extending butt for engagement by a cam to impart sliding movement to said sinker. a v

-17. A series of differentiated sinkers for conjoint or selective use in an independent needle knitting machine, each of said sinkers having a web holding shoulder at its front end, each having a horizontal guiding surface on its lower edge, which lower edge'is adapted to be received upon the upper face of the sinker bed ring and constitutes the main guiding edge of the sinker, and each sinker having in the rear of said guiding surface a downwardly and rearwardly extending prolongation of the body of the sinker, said prolongation of each sinker extending substantially below the level of said horizontal guiding surface, each of the sinkers of said series having a rearwardly extending butt for engagement by a cam to impart functioning movement to such sinker, the said rearwardly extending butts of the said series of sinkers being respectively at adifi'ere'nt level one from another, whereby each sinker is selectively acted upon by a cam at the level of its butt.

18. A reverse platingsinker for circular independent-needle knitting machines having a reverse plating yarn engaging formation adapted to engage the yarns during the loop formation and in cooperation'with the needle to effect reversal of said yarns, said sinker having a Web holding shoulder at its front end, also having a horizontal guiding surface on its lower edge, which lower edge is adapted to be received upon the upper face of the sinker bed ring and constitutes the main guiding edge of the sinker, and having in the rear of said guiding surface a downwardly and rearwardly extending prolongation of the body of the sinker, said prolongation extending substantially below the level of said horizontal guiding surface, the said prolongation having at its rear edge a rearwardly extending butt for engagement by a cam to impart sliding movement to said sinker.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT E. STEWART. 

